Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh: The tragic death of a 19-year-old college student in Dharamshala has sparked widespread outrage and a growing demand for accountability, as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The student, who died on December 26 while undergoing treatment in Ludhiana, was allegedly subjected to ragging by three fellow female students and claimed to have faced sexual harassment and caste-based intimidation from an assistant professor at her college, Ashok Kumar.

On Saturday, the accused professor spoke publicly for the first time since the case came to light, asserting his readiness to face legal consequences if found guilty. “The allegations against me are completely false. The student was in my class last semester. This semester, she is in another professor’s class. I have no connection to this matter,” Kumar told reporters after securing anticipatory bail from a Dharamshala court. The court granted him the bail on the condition that he cooperates with ongoing investigations.

Kumar, who has served in teaching for over 26 years and claims to have mentored countless students during his career, described the accusations as a “stain” on his reputation but said he is prepared to confront the situation with full responsibility. “If I am found guilty, I should face the consequences. I am prepared for this. Perhaps it was my destiny or karma to endure this stain on my reputation. Now that it has happened, I am fully prepared to confront it,” he added.

The professor acknowledged the government’s decision to suspend him, interpreting it as a step to ensure an impartial investigation. “Suspension allows for an impartial investigation. The girl should get justice, and I should too,” he said, emphasizing his willingness to cooperate with both the police and administrative inquiries.

The case gained national attention after a video, reportedly recorded by the student prior to her death, circulated on social media. In the video, she accused Kumar of indecent behaviour, intimidation, and mental harassment when she confronted his actions. The viral video intensified public outrage and drew attention to the broader issue of student safety and harassment in academic institutions.

The Himachal Pradesh government responded promptly, forming a four-member panel chaired by the additional director of higher education to conduct a preliminary probe into the incident. The committee has been given three days to submit its report to the state education secretary. Education Minister Rohit Thakur emphasized that “whoever is found guilty, the government and the education department will take the strictest possible action,” highlighting the administration’s commitment to accountability.

Simultaneously, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has constituted a five-member fact-finding committee to independently examine the case. In an official statement, the UGC described the incident as “unfortunate” and noted that the committee will scrutinize the circumstances surrounding the student’s death, as well as any potential lapses by college functionaries or other responsible individuals.

Local authorities confirmed that a formal complaint was filed by the student’s father, alleging harassment by both the professor and three female students at the college. Police reports indicate that the complaint initially came through the Chief Minister’s Sankalp Seva Helpline, prompting the immediate formation of an investigation team to probe the allegations.

The tragedy has also ignited protests and demonstrations in Dharamshala, with students, civil society members, and local residents demanding justice. Demonstrators have called for stricter enforcement of anti-ragging regulations, enhanced protection for students against harassment, and swift punitive action against those responsible.

Adding context to the academic circumstances, Rakesh Pathania, principal of the government college where the student was enrolled, provided details about her educational status. The student had initially been admitted in 2024-25 as a first-year undergraduate. In the subsequent session, she attended some second-year classes. However, after failing three subjects, she was advised to repeat her first year. According to Pathania, the student did not formally re-enroll, and the college therefore could not officially consider her a current student at the time of the incident.

Pathania further clarified that the administration only became aware of the situation when police visited the college on December 22 as part of the investigation. “We cooperated fully, unaware of the incident beforehand,” he said, emphasizing that the college had not received any prior complaints or indications regarding harassment involving the student or the professor.

Authorities are now pursuing multiple avenues of investigation. The Himachal Pradesh Police continue to examine both the alleged harassment by the professor and the ragging by the fellow students, while the state education department and UGC committees are reviewing administrative oversight, campus safety measures, and potential procedural lapses. The simultaneous probes aim to ensure that the investigation is comprehensive, impartial, and transparent.

Legal experts have noted that this case underscores the intersection of criminal law, educational governance, and administrative accountability. The professor’s anticipatory bail ensures that he can participate in the investigation without immediate threat of arrest, but it does not preclude further legal action should evidence substantiate the allegations. Meanwhile, the parallel administrative and academic inquiries are likely to influence policy decisions on harassment prevention and anti-ragging enforcement in higher education institutions.

The incident has reignited conversations around student safety in Indian colleges, with particular attention on the mechanisms for reporting harassment, the efficacy of anti-ragging committees, and the responsibilities of faculty and administrators. Many student organizations and activists have highlighted the need for stricter monitoring of faculty behaviour, enhanced psychological support for students, and systematic reforms to ensure that complaints are addressed promptly and effectively.

As investigations proceed, public scrutiny remains intense, amplified by social media and widespread reporting by news outlets. The student’s family has called for justice, while the professor maintains his innocence, pledging to confront any findings of wrongdoing.

The unfolding case in Dharamshala serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in protecting students within academic institutions and ensuring accountability for misconduct. Authorities, educational bodies, and civil society stakeholders now face the dual responsibility of delivering justice in this tragic case while implementing preventive measures to safeguard other students in similar environments.

With the preliminary reports from the government panel expected shortly and the UGC committee actively reviewing the situation, the coming days will be critical in determining both the legal outcome for the accused and the policy implications for higher education institutions in Himachal Pradesh and across India.